Okemos hopes to make another state title run. But it will have to come in Division I since Okemos has moved up to that division.

"You have to go through Novi if you're going to win the Division I title," Antcliff said, referring to the school that has won the last two Division I crowns. "You'd be foolish to think it's going to be easy. We have a lot of depth. We'll see."

OKEMOS — Okemos did not repeat as the MHSAA Division One state champs as they did last year. Two weeks ago, Okemos fell to Novi in the state regional finals by a score of 4-0.

However, this year's amazing 20-1-3 record — including a 35-game unbeaten streak that goes back to 2006 — now puts head coach Rob Antcliff's Chieftains in the "truly elite" status column.

Despite the disappointing loss, the Okemos soccer program is one of the most respected and fear in the state.

Okemos, whether playing ranked or unranked teams, established itself as a defensive juggernaut as well as a well-oiled offensive unit.

This season, the Chieftains — ranked number three in the final state polls — defeated or tied nine ranked teams and were 5-1-1 against teams that won district titles. Okemos then went 2-1-1 against regional finalist teams and were 2-1 against teams that were state semi-finalists.

The Chieftains were 16-0 against Lansing and Jackson area teams and outscored them by an unbelievable 91-2 edge. That number goes up to 30-0 over the past two years with a scoring advantage of 168-6. Add in this year's district crown, and the regional final loss and let the numbers speak for the team.

After winning the 2006 crown, the Chieftains came right back to display their talents and abilities without missing a beat after their championship year.

"There are a lot of teams that win championships and then flounder the next year," said Antcliff. "Before the season, I met with the seniors and told them that they had an incredible opportunity this year. They had the power to establish Okemos soccer as an elite program, not just a 'one time fluke.'"

Antcliff's seniors, as well as the rest of the team, took his message to heart. Chelsea Avery, Teresa Bulocchi, Kathryn Cobbett, Megan Farhat, Alexandra Klim, Lauren Munson and Emily White were the seven seniors on the team. They, along with junior teammates Mary Cooke, Kathryn Gibson, Claire Houser, Elle Kalbfell, Taylor Miller, Brooke Robinson, Janine Roffle and Lauren Roffle, sophomores Sarah Banks, Emma Newton and Nicole Schiro and freshmen Chelsea Miller and Kelsey Mullen met the challenge head on and established a mark that will be tough to follow.

This season, the team recorded the most shutouts in history with 17 along with the most goals scored in a season with 112. That gave the Chieftains whopping 4.67 goals per match average. They also allowed a meager 0.54 goals per match on defense.

Nicole Schiro led the team with an brilliant 27-goal season that is a school record. Her efforts recently landed her on the Class A All State Team as well.

Farhat also set a record with the most assists in a season with 28.

Also, the Chieftains enjoyed their first back-to-back 20-plus winning seasons and added their seventh straight district title. This year also marks the first season with two 20-goal-plus players on the same team. Schiro and Farhat (22 goals) set the pace. Schiro ended the year with 27 goals and 13 assists while Farhat added 22 goals.

In addition to Schiro's first place honor, Farhat was named to the second team all state group and Taylor Miller to the third team. Seven players made the all league team, while three were named honorable mention (names not available). Eight players made the all district team and three the all regional team.

"The team chemistry was unbelievable," said Farhat. "This team was the best that I've ever played on."

Lauren Munson echoed her words. "I absolutely trusted everyone on this team. It was such an awesome experience."

Emily White also credited the coaches with their success. "The trust that we showed in our coaches and teammates was a huge factor in our success."

Those words from three departing seniors, along with those of another of the seven seniors, sums up the year. "Our team chemistry really made it hard to say good-bye. I loved playing with these girls," stated Teresa Bulocchi.

But, as with any program that has established itself like the Okemos team now has done, their part of that building process will be missed but not forgotten.

"We've got 14 returning letter winners back next year," said Antcliff. "These seniors took what I said and through hard work and team building they made the most of their chance and now we are seen as one of the top five programs in the state. That accomplishment is their legacy."

No. 1-1 Rockford                         No. 2-1 Kalamazoo-Loy Norrix                                
Keith Vree, Athletic Director         Andrew Laboe, Athletic Director
Grand Haven                              Battle Creek-Central
Grand Rapids-Union                    East Kentwood
Grandville                                  Holland
Hudsonville                                Holland-West Ottawa
Jenison                                     Kalamazoo Central
Muskegon                                  Kalamazoo-Loy Norrix
Rockford                                    Portage Central

No. 3-1 Holt                                No. 4-1 Novi
Rick Schmidt, Athletic Director       Curt Ellis, Athletic Director
Grand Ledge                               Brighton                                  
Holt                                          Commerce-Walled Lake Northern
Jackson                                      Hartland                                    
Lansing-Eastern                          Howell      
Lansing-Everett                           Novi
Lansing-JW Sexton                      South Lyon
Okemos                                     Walled Lake Western

Region 1 - Holt  - Division 1
Rick Schmidt. Athletic Director     
Novi  Dist. 4 vs. Kalamazoo - Loy Norrix  Dist. 2
Rockford  Dist. 1 vs. Holt  Dist. 3

 Okemos bounced back with two goals early in the second half. Megan Farhat and Teres Buiocchi scored two minutes apart for a 2-1 lead.

Then Quoss fed Lauren Haines for a goal with 12 minutes left in the second half to tie it. 

"We got our poise back and almost won the game," Campbell said. "We almost scored the winning goal in the 75th minute. If they can play like this through the rest of the season and districts, it could be a very good season."

Chemics' goalie Ashley Mulloy saved seven of nine shots, while the Chemics had seven shots of their own. 

Midland stays unbeaten at 7-0-2 and hosts Flint Southwestern on Monday.

Okemos, the Division 2 defending state champion, scored on a penalty kick four minutes into the game.

Dow goaltender Jordan Sinclair made 13 saves on the afternoon, and didn't allow another goal until 10 minutes remained, when the undefeated Chieftains scored the final goal.

"Jordan Sinclair and the rest of the girls played a really solid game," said Chargers' coach Tom Miller. "This is the best game we played all year, we made solid passes and controlled the tempo of the game. We are still young and improving."

Dow is 7-5-1 and will host Mount Pleasant Monday.

OKEMOS - Kelsey Mullen scored two goals for Okemos in a 10-0 victory over Sexton in the first round of the Capital Area Activities Conference-1 tournament on Thursday.

Sera Tekin added a goal and three assists and Nicole Schiro had a gold and two assists for the Chieftains.

Okemos will next play the winner of the Grand Ledge/Jackson game on Monday at Okemos

HOLT - Danielle Counseller's goal with 2:07 left in double overtime lifted Holt over East Lansing, 2-1, Monday, in the semifinals of the CAAC-1 tournament.

Tory Patton also scored for the Rams (11-3-4, 7-1-1). Counseller and Ashley Schouten added assists. Jessica Baker made 13 saves.

"We played with a lot of heart tonight," said Holt coach Doris Pipkins. "The defense played with a lot of intensity, especially at the end. The heart and intensity, I believe, won the game."

Kate Mannausa scored the lone goal for East Lansing. The goal was assisted by Ellen Connor. Emma Heppler made two saves for the Trojans (12-6, 6-3).

• OKEMOS 5, JACKSON 0 - Nichole Schiro had two goals for Okemos to advance to the championship game of the CAAC-1 tournament. Sera Tekin, Megan Farhat, and Katy Cobbett each added a goal. Kelsey Mullen, Mary Cooke, and Teresa Buiocchi each had an assist. Sarah Banks had five saves for the Chieftains (15-0-3).

Okemos will face Holt in the CAAC-1 championship game at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Okemos.

OKEMOS - Nichole Schiro had two goals to lead Okemos to a Division 1 district win.

The Chieftains (17-0-3) will face Eastern at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Holt.

Teresa Buiocchi had two assists and Taylor Miller, Brooke Robinson, Sera Tekin, Kelsey Mullen, Jenna Dakroub and Tracy Nogle scored goals for the Chieftains.

Darciellia Williams made eight saves for the Vikings.

HOLT - Megan Farhat had all three goals, and Okemos set a school record for shutouts with its 16th in a 3-0 Division 1 district championship win over Jackson on Saturday.

Farhat scored on a penalty kick about 10 minutes in, then later off assists by Taylor Miller and Chelsey Avery. The second goal forced Jackson to come out of its defensive alignment, which mostly stifled the Chieftains by using five players in the back row.

"They were holding us pretty well. They had a good game plan against us," Okemos coach Rob Antcliff said. "After (the penalty kick), our girls kind of relaxed a little bit, calmed down and moved the ball around very well."

It was the third time Okemos beat CAAC-1 foe Jackson this season and its second straight shutout of the Vikings. Goalies Sarah Banks and Katie Gibson combined to stop four shots.

Okemos outscored its three opponents by a combined 25-0 this week.  The Chieftains (19-0-3) face Grand Haven in a regional semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Holt. Okemos beat Grand Haven 4-1 earlier this season, but Antcliff said Grand Haven was missing two significant starters in that game.

Okemos's girls soccer team made a statement earlier this season with a 4-1 victory over visiting Grand Haven.

That doesn't mean the Buccaneers are going into Wednesday's Division 1 regional semifinal match against the Chieftains without any hope.

In fact, Grand Haven coach Cor Damhuis said his squad is confident it can play with, and beat, No. 4-ranked Okemos, or any other team in the state, for that matter.

"We have proven this season that we can play with the best teams in the state," Damhuis said. "We have had a very heavy schedule as far as opponents are concerned, and we did that on purpose, for when we get to this level.

"Personally, I think we can play with any team in the state. That may sound cocky, but I don't think it is. I know our girls, and I believe it's a very realistic observation."

Damhuis said the Bucs aren't putting too much stock in their earlier loss to the Chieftains. They played that game without the services of three starters: Sam Cook, Heather Koats and Krista Clement.

In Saturday's district championship victory over Rockford, Koats scored one of the Bucs' goals, Clement assisted on another, and Cook led a dominating effort by the Bucs' defense.

"We were undermanned at that time, and that had something to do with our performance," Damhuis said of his team's loss at Okemos on April 24. "We played with them for the first half, and the last part of the second half, but we had a 10-minute attention span lapse in the second half. We came out kid of flat, and they scored three goals in that time. That cost us the game."

Damhuis said soccer fans making the trip to Holt for Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. contest between the Bucs and the Chieftains will see a different style of play than what is played in West Michigan.

"Any time you go to that side of the state, or the Kalamazoo area, you're forced to play, and the referees allow you to play, a more physical game," Damhuis said. "It's something on this side of the state some people call dirty, but the reality is, soccer is a contact sport, and a lot of that stuff is allowed. That's why we play those types of games early in the season, to get ready for it.

"People who have not been exposed to it may perceive us as a dirty team, but we just play hard."

That physical style of play will also be on display earlier Wednesday as No. 3-ranked Novi faces off against Portage Central in the other Holt regional semifinal. The winners of Wednesday's games will play Saturday at 2 p.m.

While Okemos features a dangerous offense, which scored 19 goals in three district tournament games, Damhuis feels his defense will be up to task.

Leading the way is sophomore goalie Katie Malnight, who has been at her best in the biggest games this season.

"We have a very solid midfield and defense, and don't forget Katie Malnight," Damhuis said. "She makes her mark. She's been doing it all season, but against the more difficult opposition, she's been shining."

HOLT — In his many years of coaching girls soccer at Grand Haven High School, Cor Damhuis has been involved in many games that have ended early due to the mercy rule.

But never have his Buccaneers been on the losing side.

Wednesday night, the Bucs came precariously close, dropping a surprisingly lopsided 7-0 decision to No. 4-ranked Okemos in the Division 1 regional semifinals at Holt.

"I'm at a loss," Damhuis said after the game. "It's oh so simple to go into a blaming game, but this was a team effort. This is totally flabbergasting."

The fans at Holt High School were treated to several minutes of fantastic soccer by the Bucs early on as Grand Haven started off connecting on bang-bang passes and working the ball around the field flawlessly.

After a near miss just minutes into the game, the Bucs were flying high, but they crashed back down to the turf a few minutes later as Okemos scored their first goal 6 minutes, 42 seconds into the game. Sophomore Nichole Schiro worked the ball down the right side, beat a Grand Haven defender going toward the goal, then hit a shot that Buccaneer goalie Katie Malnight stopped while sprawled out on her side. She couldn't control the rebound, however, and Okemos' Brooke Robinson knocked it home for a 1-0 lead.

Just 69 seconds later, the Chieftains made it 2-0 when a long ball was played in behind the Bucs' defense. Megan Farhat timed her run perfectly and got in behind the defenders and easily beat Malnight.

Facing a two-goal deficit just 8 minutes into the game, Grand Haven didn't give up, and actually began to even out play as the half progressed, but the back breaker came with 1:45 remaining after Grand Haven's Sarah Rose was sent off with a yellow card. On the restart, just to the right of the Bucs' penalty box, Farhat played a ball in to Schiro, and the sophomore forward hit a volley just inside the far post for a 3-0 advantage.

Two more goals, one each by Schiro and Teresa Buiocchi, in the first 3 minutes of the second half erased any hopes of a Buccaneer comeback.

"We came out and in the first 5 minutes were playing fine," said Grand Haven forward Christine Sorensen. "Even at halftime, we talked that we wanted to come out and play like that in the second half. We were talking that we could come back from 3-0. Then all of a sudden it was 5-0."

Buiocchi scored again with 31 minutes remaining to make it 6-0, then Elle Kalbfell beat Malnight to a 50-50 ball and slid a shot into the open net with 19:05 left for a 7-0 lead.

Grand Haven's best chances to get a ball into the Okemos net came early in the second half. Trailing 5-0, a long ball played in to the Okemos penalty box was headed toward the goal. The ball sat precariously on the turf for several seconds, and several Grand Haven girls tried to get a foot on it, but couldn't connect, and Okemos goalie Katey Gibson crashed through a crowd to smother the ball.

A minute later, the ball was played back in to Samantha Dykema, who was one-on-one with Gibson, but rushed her shot and hit it wide of the far post.

"We went out with the right intentions, but a lot of little things went wrong," Damhuis said. "We missed some 50-50 balls, some passes went to nobody, and there were several times where the offsides trap didn't work.

"Give Okemos credit. They looked like state champs tonight. I just don't know what happened to us. Our passes weren't on. The connection between the midfields and the forwards just wasn't there."

Okemos contributed to Grand Haven's woes by being the much more aggressive team. The Chieftains stepped in front of many Grand Haven passes, their first touches were fantastic, and every pass was nearly flawless.

Grand Haven's task was made more difficult when sweeper Sam Cook, who had injured her knee earlier in the season, was severely hobbled after an early-game collision. She played most of the game, but was nowhere near full strength or speed.

For the Bucs, the loss comes as a heartbreaking end to a season that started with so much promise. The team started the season on a roll before struggling through injuries and other setbacks, then seemed to pull everything together to win three straight games in the district tournament.

"We were really playing well in districts, so it's really hard to go out like this," Sorensen said. "It's hard to see it end."

Grand Haven loses seven seniors to graduation: Sorensen, Cook, Megan McNamara, Brooke Gancarz, Lisa Hagen, Martha Coe and Lauren Ferris.